SIA PRESIDENT’S REPORT – MEMBER NEWS FOR JAN 2021
Since our last SIA Member News Summary, press releases and posts from many SIA Members including Eutelsat, Hawkeye 360, Inmarsat, Integrasys, Intelsat, Iridium, Kratos, OneWeb, Planet, SpaceX and Viasat have released news. Please see the summary of stories and postings below and click on the COMPANY LINK for more details.
INMARSAT On Jan 26th, Inmarsat Government announced that L3Harris Technologies’ (NYSE:LHX) DarkWing™ terminal had received Category 1 and Category 4 approval to operate on Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) network in both commercial and military Ka (Mil Ka) globally. DarkWing is a new addition to the GX family of terminals that combines a small form factor and lightweight flat-panel to produce a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), providing high-speed data communications for Internet, virtual private network (VPN) connectivity and video transmission. A worldwide GX subscriptions plan offers data rates up to 6Mbps x 3Mbps. Higher-speed communications are available to government customers on the GX SATCOM as a Service network up to 59Mbps x 7.5Mbps globally, and up to 90Mbps x 30Mbps using Inmarsat military Ka steerable antennas. This ruggedized terminal solution is designed to fit in a backpack or laptop-sized case for ease of transport, ideal for small teams, VIPs or sensitive missions. Time from setup to operational use is less than five minutes, achieved through integration of the modem, radio frequency (RF) components and antenna into a single assembly.
INTEGRASYS On Jan 26th, Integrasys posted: Integrasys Evolving at the Speed of Light – “Since March 2020, the world we have known has totally changed. A year ago, the Satellite Industry was waiting impatiently for the greatest event of the year, Satellite 2020. We did not know until the last day of this, that it will be a hard stop for meeting customers and friends in person. We have always been regular to trade shows, and customer visits. We have changed the way we do business. Now we organize meetings through online platforms such as Zoom or Teams, and sometimes we just call our closest customers and have a wine or a wine, we call this the ‘’Online Happy Hour’’, we use this type of concept to have a chat, and to maintain the closest relationship. We really emphasize this type of meetings, we think that customer satisfaction is not just business, is also to find a friend in someone you work with. We have been focusing all our efforts on changing logistics so that our products become ‘’COVID Friendly’’. Being a Software company during COVID-19 times is exciting for creating solutions for the new set of problems, we have tested more than ever to our Development Team, our goal in the latest months has been to offer Cloud-Based Systems so that we can avoid hardware, logistics, shipping, and traveling. The way we are working now is easier for our customers, who only need a computer and an Internet connection to use our products, as they are fully virtualized.” Read the complete posting by clicking on the INTEGRASYS link above.
HAWKEYE 360 On Jan 24th, HawkEye 360 Inc., announced that Cluster 2 — the company's second cluster of satellites — had successfully been deployed into orbit. After launching aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 on Sunday, the trio of satellites was dispensed from Spaceflight Inc.'s Sherpa-FX orbital transfer vehicle and has established communications with the HawkEye 360 satellite operations center. In the weeks ahead, the satellites will be fully tested, commissioned, and moved into their final formation needed to detect, characterize and gelocate RF signals. The company processes and analyzes RF signal data collected by the satellites to deliver actionable insights and a unique layer of knowledge for national security operations, maritime domain awareness, environmental protection and numerous additional applications. Cluster 2 follows the company's first Pathfinder cluster of satellites, launched two years ago, but is significantly more powerful. The new satellites can process data at a faster rate — leading to increased geolocations with an even greater degree of accuracy — and are equipped with new software-defined radios (SDR) that can simultaneously collect a wide range of frequencies.
PLANET On Jan 24th, Planet announced that 48 SuperDove satellites were successfully delivered to orbit on SpaceX’s Transporter-1 mission. This record-setting launch carried 143 satellites to orbit – the most spacecraft ever deployed on a single mission. “Our missions operations team has made contact with the SIA PRESIDENT’S REPORT – MEMBER NEWS FOR JAN 2021
first set of 40 satellites (continuing our 100% success rate on first contact!) and started the automated commissioning sequence. The remaining 8 satellites will be deployed from D-Orbit’s ION platform over the coming weeks. Flock 4s is equipped with new spectral bands and improvements to image sharpness and quality. The 48 SuperDoves will join our existing constellation of over 100 satellites and deliver unmatched medium-resolution global coverage. This data can be plugged into a into a number of workflows to serve markets where users are finding great value in using satellite data to solve some of the world’s most urgent problems – from agriculture to government, both intelligence and civilian agencies, to forestry and land use.
SPACEX On Jan 20th, SpaceX announced the launch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, completing the seventeenth Starlink mission. Following first- stage separation, Falcon 9 successfully landed for the eighth time on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s first stage booster rocket previously supported seven other missions: the SXM-7 mission in December 2020, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission in June 2019, launch of Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019, and four Starlink missions. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported a Starlink mission and the other previously supported two.
ONEWEB On Jan 15th, OneWeb announced that it had secured additional funding from SoftBank Group Corp. (“SoftBank”) and Hughes Network Systems LLC (“Hughes”), bringing OneWeb’s total funding to $1.4 billion. The capital raised to date positions the Company to be fully funded for its first-generation satellite fleet, totaling 648 satellites, by the end of 2022. In December 2020, OneWeb launched 36 new satellites, built at its Airbus Joint Venture assembly plant in Florida, USA, bringing the Company’s total fleet to 110 satellites, all fully-functioning and benefitting from International Telecommunication Union spectrum priority.
ONEWEB On Jan 13th, OneWeb announced it had streamlined its constellation and has reduced its request for US market access from 47,884 to 6,372 satellites. Together with the satellites for which it is already licensed by the FCC, the total constellation size will be roughly 7,000, down from the 48,000 or so proposed last year. This solidification of OneWeb’s constellation demonstrates the commitment and vision of OneWeb’s new owners, the UK Government and Bharti Global who are dedicated to deploying a cost effective, responsible, and ground-breaking satellite network to deliver global broadband. OneWeb remains focused on launching its first-generation system of 648 satellites and is on track to start regional commercial services within a year. Today’s streamlining activities highlight OneWeb’s plan for global connectivity services and for future generations and possibilities for the network.
EUTELSAT On Jan 13th, Eutelsat and European Investment Bank (EIB), the long-term lending institution of the European Union announced a €200 million financing agreement at the European Space Conference. This eight-year loan will back investments related to the procurement and launch of the KONNECT VHTS satellite for the provision of advanced broadband services in Europe and neighbouring areas. KONNECT VHTS is an advanced satellite providing unprecedented upload and download speed capacity for both fixed and mobile broadband services. With a weight of 6.3 tonnes and a Ka-band capacity of 500 Gbps, this next generation satellite will carry the most powerful on-board digital processor ever put into orbit, offering capacity, allocation flexibility, optimal spectrum use, and progressive ground network deployment. It will deliver cost-effective, competitive broadband connectivity allowing notably the provision of ubiquitous and affordable very high-speed fixed broadband access to European households, businesses and public administrations in remote areas that remain beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure.
PLANET On Jan 12th, Planet announced, “that all NASA-funded researchers now have continued access to PlanetScope and RapidEye imagery through September 2021 following an extension of our current agreement under NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program. Through the NASA SIA PRESIDENT’S REPORT – MEMBER NEWS FOR JAN 2021
CSDA Program, scientists have used Planet imagery for a variety of research projects to date and we’re eager to see what innovative projects these researchers will pursue in the coming year. In the last year, PlanetScope imagery was used to validate burned area models of wildfires, analyze the collapse of the last intact Arctic ice sheet due to the impacts of climate change, and assess landslide hazards in the Himalayas. NASA researchers have also turned to satellite imagery to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic shutdowns. Planet data was incorporated into NASA’s COVID-19 Dashboard to monitor changes in traffic and airports over time. The Togolese government approached NASA Harvest, NASA’s food security and agriculture program, to create a country-wide cropland map with the goal of helping in aid distribution. The Harvest team provided the government with the map they needed within 10 days of receiving the request, allowing the government to mobilize quickly to ensure food security during the global pandemic.”
INTELSAT On Jan 8th, Intelsat announced that Airbus had signed a contract with Intelsat to build two OneSat satellites operating in multiple frequency bands for Intelsat’s next-generation software-defined network. The contract was signed on 31 December 2020. The satellites will be based on Airbus’ OneSat product line, the latest generation of fully flexible, in orbit reconfigurable, Software Defined Satellites (SDS). Airbus will deliver an end-to-end fully integrated solution, including design and manufacture of the satellites. The highly capable ground segment software components, when fully integrated into Intelsat’s next-generation software defined network ecosystem and advanced digital suite will allow dynamic operation of end-to-end satellite resources. The two next generation SD satellites will be delivered in 2023.
VIASAT On Jan 5th, Viasat Inc., announced that Delta Air Lines had selected Viasat's next-generation Ka- band satellite in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution for more than 300 mainline narrow-body aircraft, including both new delivery and retrofits on A321ceo, 737-900ER and select 757-200 aircraft. Delta expects to bring the Viasat technology onboard these aircraft starting summer 2021, with Delta having the option to add additional fleets. Delta will be upgrading its current IFC system to Viasat's more advanced Ka-band satellite-powered technology to provide all customers with enhanced and reliable in-flight internet capabilities—including faster, more consistent connections and an ability to stream all types of entertainment and popular over-the-top content—to any internet-ready device, gate-to-gate. The Viasat/Delta relationship will lay the groundwork toward a true full, fast and free in-flight internet experience as well as future enhancements and personalization on customer seatback screens. Delta's aircraft will be outfitted with Viasat's latest Ka-band IFC system, and will be compatible with Viasat's complete fleet of satellites, including Viasat's first-generation spacecraft and partner satellites; its second-generation spacecraft ViaSat-2, and the forthcoming ViaSat-3 class of satellites, which are expected to offer global coverage with nearly eight times more capacity than Viasat's current fleet.
IRIDIUM On Jan 5th, Iridium announced commercial availability of the Iridium Edge Solar – a secure, maintenance-free, solar-powered remote asset tracking and management device. With over-the-air configuration capabilities, the Iridium Edge Solar is ideal for Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), fisheries management, tracking of freight shipping containers, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) applications, monitoring of oil and gas pipelines and heavy equipment telematics data reporting. The Iridium Edge Solar beta trials, which are nearing completion, are thoroughly testing its real-time, two-way communication, over-the-air configuration ability, built-in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity and secure, ruggedized packaging. The addition of BLE technology enables development of customized deployable sensor systems that can be positioned on machinery, vehicles, vessels or across worksites.
KRATOS On Jan 4th, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS) announced that Kratos’ Microwave Electronic Products Division (KMED) had recently received a development contract award related to a new planned next generation satellite program. KMED is a leading provider of microwave products, subsystems and components for missile, radar, missile defense, guided munitions, space and satellite communications and other communications systems and programs. Work under this new contract SIA PRESIDENT’S REPORT – MEMBER NEWS FOR JAN 2021
and program award will be performed at secure Kratos facilities in Israel. Due to customer related, competitive and other considerations, no additional information will be provided related to this new opportunity. Yonah Adelman, President of KMED, said, “Our entire organization is excited and proud to have been selected to participate in and support this new space and satellite related program opportunity, which ultimately has the potential to be very significant to our business. We are both seeing and pursuing additional new opportunities like the one we are reporting on today, and we are positioning the business to become qualified, designed in on and support additional programs both here in Israel and internationally.“
VIASAT On Dec 21st, Viasat Inc., announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNET), a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications, in an all-stock transaction. RigNet provides premier, global end-to-end, secure managed communications service and installation capabilities, along with digital transformation solutions, which will enable Viasat to quickly expand into new adjacent industries, including: energy, shipping, maritime, mining and additional enterprises. Acquiring RigNet will give Viasat direct access to over 650 customers and expand and diversify Viasat's commercial connectivity portfolio, providing Viasat an opportunity to more quickly enter adjacent industries. For example, by combining the strong gains in bandwidth efficiencies expected from the impending ViaSat-3 constellation and RigNet's portfolio of services, Viasat will become a leading vertically-integrated energy communications provider with deep domain and customer expertise
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